The Matrix is a nice looking car and Toyotas generally have a reputation for reliability, but I think the days of quality issues are over for American cars. We had a Honda Civic that left us stranded on the side of the road THREE times - each time with a different problem. Of course, that Civic was made in Canada and not Japan...
And down here (I believe soCal is the new-car-selling capitol of the world, is it not?) all you have to do is scour the ads of various newspapers (paying much attention to the fine print) and you can find awesome deals where out of the area dealers attempt to undercut the local dealers market share. Might be worth a look.
